A CLOSURE of a primary school’s council maintained nursery has moved a step closer after a decision by senior councillors.

Little Gems nursery already provides “wrap around” childcare for children aged three and over who attend the nursery at Durand Primary School in Caldicot and it is intended it will replace the local authority maintained school nursery as the setting providing approved funded early education from September.

Monmouthshire County Council’s ruling Labour and Green Party cabinet, which agreed to consult on the plan for six weeks at the end of January, will now issue the formal statutory notice of the intention to close the council maintained nursery.

It is due to be published on Thursday, April 23 with a 28 day period for objections running until May 22.

The change means the age range of Durand Primary will change to four to 11 rather than three to 11 at present.

Councillor Laura Wright, the cabinet member for education, said closure of the council maintained nursery means parents will be able to access the Childcare Offer for Wales, that provides up to 30 hours a week funded early education and childcare to working parents, more conveniently.

Councils have a duty to ensure families can access a minimum of 10 hours a week of early education from the term following their child’s third birthday until they are offered a full-time school place.

She said: “I feel this move broadens the offer and expands parental choice.”

Local authority maintained nurseries will also continue to operate within the school cluster area, which Cllr Wright said meant choice is being maintained.

Conservative opposition group leader Richard John welcomed the proposal but questioned how the cabinet could “possibly claim to have consulted the community when you had just 14 responses?”

The Mitchell Troy and Trellech councillor said a Labour council “privatising” a nursery “raises an eyebrow” and claimed the Labour group had opposed a previous Tory proposal to do so.

He also asked if the plan recognises local authority maintained nurseries “do not offer enough flexibility for working parents?”

But Cllr Wright, who defended the consultation and steps the council had taken to discuss the proposal with the school and nursery providers, reminded Cllr John there is still the opportunity to comment during the objection period and comments made will have to be considered by the cabinet before the closure is approved.

In reply to the claim the council had recognised local authority maintained nurseries are “inflexible” Cllr Wright replied: “No I don’t think so. This extends parental choice.”

She said there will be a mixture of non maintained and maintained settings but said data shows a trend for non maintained settings which can offer more flexibility.

Of the 14 formal responses, 11 were fully supportive of proposals put forward, a further two supported some aspects while one parent objected and said early years provision should be delivered by a qualified teacher and the school.

The council said those accessing 30 hours provision through non maintained settings across the county receive a high standard of provision.